Grrrrr...the lace yarn I've been waiting on arrived. It's beautiful 50/50 wool and silk. I've cast on now 3 times and have gotten about six rows into the pattern...then poof..I somehow, added six stiches into the pattern (well not exactly somehow), I got too big for my britches and stopped paying attention. I'm determined to conquer this but right now I just need to vent. Damn Lace!

Obviously my head is much smaller than I thought. I knit up a half-dome this week, and it just a smidge to big. I'd love to shrink it down just a bit but I don't want to felt it or have it end being baby size. Does anyone have any suggestions for just a wee bit of shrinkage. And don't say take a cold shower!

Finally, the big black blob of a sweater is complete. I bound off the last of it this morning. There are still a few yarn tails to weave in but that will just have to wait. It took me a good two weeks longer than I thought it would, just because it was soooo boring to work on.

The good news is that it actually looks good and fits well, but never again will I do a huge project in all black. Thank goodness I had a pair of camouflage socks to work on or I would have completely lost my mind.

I have a bad case of the black sweater blues. Shortly after Christmas I cast on for another top down, in the round, raglan. I'd just completed my first top down sweater and was anxious to get started on another and since I didn't own a simple black sweater, it seemed like the ideal project. UGH!

I'm soooooo tired of knitting black..black...black and nothing but black I could scream. I'll pick it up knit 5 or six rounds and then I have to put it down, it's utter boredom. You really can't see the stitches, it's just this massive black blob in your lap...and it seems like it's taking forever to knit the body of the sweater. I measure the damn thing 3 or 4 times a day and it never seems to get any longer. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! It's the knitters nightmare, a project that won't end.

I know after it's finished I'll be happy that I did it, but in the meantime, I feel like I've created a monster that won't die.

Just wanted to get a head start on wishing everyone a Happy New Year, and to thank everyone who's made me feel so welcome here.

I'll be spending a quiet night here in NYC working on another sweater (top down, in the round), I cast on yesterday and have about 10 more rows until I finish up the raglan and get to the body...go me! It's plain ole black..do you believe it...here I am a gay man in NYC and have never owned a plain black sweater? It's a nice soft merino so it's a comforting knit. If I get bored I'll switch to my camouflage socks...

Hope your New Year is filled with all things good...and that your stash is always full.

After 25 odd years of knitting sweaters, piece by piece, I've finally tried knitting a top-down raglan in the round. I've got to say I may never go back to the old way again. It's fast (finished in two weeks), relatively simple, and the results were great, plus no seaming...gotta love that.

Anyhow, do any of you have a formula, or trick for converting regular stitch patterns to patterns that can be knit in the round...if so I'd love to know what they are. I don't want to knit every sweater in just straight stocking stitch if I can avoid it.